Being invited to train with one of Scotland’s professional clubs can be an exciting time for young players and

their families alike.

 

However, parents should ensure they fully understand the commitment they are making and the rules and regulations that govern Club Academy Scotland.

 

The Scottish FA have published a large amount of information, which can be accessed HERE

 

Never disclose personal details to a scout or anyone claiming to be one. Scouts should never directly approach a parent or player to request a date of birth, address, phone

number or email address. Scouts MUST contact the Scottish Youth FA club the young

player is registered with.

 

A Team Scout is defined as ‘a person employed or acting on behalf of a club, holding a licence issued by the Scottish FA, who undertakes scouting activities for and on behalf of such club’. A scout should carry his scouting identification when attending any activity involving young players.

 

Article 80.1 of the Scottish FA Handbook states ‘Team Scout, player or other person,

shall not directly or indirectly induce or attempt to induce a registered player of another

club to leave for any purpose whatsoever the club for which he is so registered.’

 

Parents should carefully consider the travel implications, both in terms of time and cost. Travelling to training two or three times per week can significantly affect all family

members, as well as homework and other activities and commitments. Parents should

establish the travel requirements for matches, as CAS operates across Scotland and matches can be arranged with Academies in England and abroad.

 

If the player enjoys playing football with peers at school, parents should confirm with

the CAS Club that there are no objections or policies that would prevent the player’s

continued involvement in school football. The Scottish FA has no rule preventing a

player from representing their school and playing in CAS matches.

 

Club Academy Scotland teams are not permitted to charge parents fees whilst their child is involved.

 

If a player is registered with a CAS team and wishes to move to another CAS team, the team holding the player’s registration is entitled, under Scottish FA rules, to Training Compensation. The requirement to pay this fee should never prevent the player from moving clubs.

 

If a player wishes to leave a CAS club, they should, in the first instance, write to the Club

to request cancellation of their registration. If, for any reason, this request is not actioned or there is an unnecessary delay, the player and parent can contact the Scottish FA’s Young Players’ Wellbeing Panel. Support and guidance can be obtained by contacting [email protected]

 

Players entering CAS will sign a Registration form, not a contract, and the term contract should be avoided – players are not contracted to play for a designated period, nor will they be paid for their services. A player’s registration can be terminated at any time by the club.

 

It is widely accepted that fewer than 1% of youth players will ever sign a

professional contract with a club. Parents must give serious consideration to the

commitment they undertake on their child’s behalf before joining a Club Academy

Scotland team. They should consider the impact on the child’s education, the loss

of playing the game they love with friends and peers in a local setting, and the

demands placed on the wider family.

 

If a professional club wishes to approach or sign a player registered with the Scottish Youth FA, the procedure set out in Section 3 of Annex 9 of the Scottish FA Registration Procedures must be followed.

 

To read the procedure in full, the Scottish FA Handbook can be accessed HERE

 

Annex 9, Section 4 of the Scottish FA Handbook gives clear guidance should a professional club wish to approach a player registered with an SYFA Club.

 

It states ‘Should a Team Scout attending a Scottish Youth FA’s Club’s match wish to approach a Scottish Youth FA Club’s Player, then he must make himself known to a Scottish Youth FA Registered Official of the Scottish Youth FA Club by first introducing himself, providing his full name and confirmation of which Club(s) he represents. 

 

Permission must be granted by a Scottish Youth FA Registered Official of the Scottish Youth FA Club prior to any approach being made to the Player and/or his parent(s)/guardian(s). Only in these limited circumstances, and only if verbal permission from a Scottish Youth FA Registered Official of the Scottish Youth FA Club is granted as set out in this Paragraph 4.1 of Annex 9, prior written intimation to the Scottish Youth FA Club is not required.’

 

Rule 45 of the SYFA Supplementary & Playing Rules requires that, if a Club holding a player’s registration is approached, it should inform and discuss the approach with the player and the parent/carer within 7 days. This aligns with Article 12 of the European Convention on the Rights of the Child, which ensures that every child capable of forming their own views has the right to express those views freely in all matters

affecting them.

 

Annex 10, Article 3 of the Scottish FA Handbook details the circumstances in which an SYFA registered player can participate in training and matches for a CAS team.

 

3.1 A Recreational Player may, with the written permission of his Club, play in a match for a Club in full membership of the Scottish FA, an Affiliated Association or an Affiliated National Association providing the rules of the competition allow him to do so and providing he is otherwise eligible to do so.

 

3.2 A Recreational Player may, with the written permission of his Club, train with a Club in full membership of the Scottish FA, an Affiliated Association or an Affiliated National Association.

 

Annex 11, Article 2.1 states ‘Compensation of £200 will be due to the Club of a Recreational Player if the Player currently registered with that Club signs as a Professional Player with a Club in full membership of the Scottish FA or in membership of an Affiliated Association.

 

Annex 11, Article 3.1 advises – ‘When a Professional Club signs a Recreational Player as an Amateur Player or a Club Academy Scotland Player, a fee of £100 must be sent by the Professional Club to the secretary of the relevant Affiliated National Association.

 

Confirmation of this payment should also be lodged with the Scottish FA’s Registrations Department. Any sums payable in accordance with this Paragraph 3.1 of this Annex 11 shall be paid within 30 days of the date the relevant Recreational Player signs with the relevant Professional Club. Failure to adhere to this procedure may result in the matter being referred to the Compliance Officer for investigation and possible sanction in accordance with the Judicial Panel Protocol.’

 

SYFA Clubs should note that there is no requirement to request or submit an invoice for this payment; the rule simply requires the professional club to make the payment to the Scottish Youth FA. However, Clubs may wish to send an email to the CAS club requesting payment and providing the SYFA bank account details. The email should also be copied to the SYFA at [email protected]

 

At the SYFA’s Annual General Meeting on 28th June 2026, members agreed that the club that last held the player’s registration would receive the full £100 from the SYFA.

 

In the event of any breaches of these rules, the circumstances can be reported to the Scottish FA’s Compliance Officer. Please email [email protected]

 

Please note that the Scottish Youth FA has no authority to investigate or sanction a professional club that is a member of the Scottish FA.